Fiat 500X Dolcevita Hatchback Review & Prices

In Italian, ‘dolce vita’ means to live the good life. In the case of the Fiat 500X Dolcevita, though, it means your retro-inspired SUV has a retractable roof. In the world of word association it’s quite the leap, but what’s in a name, really?

You could compare the Fiat 500X Dolcevita to sipping espresso on the sun terrace of a cafe, because it’s cool, Italian and if the weather’s nice, more enjoyable if you can be exposed to the sunny sky.

Convertible SUVs are a rare breed, with the much derided Range Rover Evoque Convertible and, more recently, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet scarce examples. But unlike these, the 500X Dolcevita has a retractable canvas roof that’s more like a big sunroof than a proper drop-top.

While that sounds like a diss, the upside is that you don’t get the awkward proportions of the cars mentioned above. Instead, the design of the regular 500X remains as an alternative to regular family SUVs such as the Mini Countryman, Skoda Kamiq and Peugeot 2008.

The 500X is almost a decade old now, and its styling is heavily inspired by the small Fiat 500 city car that first reappeared in 2007. Yet it somehow still looks fresh and fun. While early versions of the 500X struggled to wrap the design cues over the bigger, chunkier body, Fiat has largely figured the details out to make this a pretty good looking SUV.

You’ll find a similar funky chic style inside. It’s a playful appearance that offers something very different to some of the duller alternatives, such as the Kamiq or SEAT Arona, though it doesn’t feel quite as well built as those. The 7.0-inch touchscreen is one of the smaller units you’ll find in a family SUV, while it’s not hard to find some cheaper plastics.

When we’ve tested the regular 500X we’ve found interior space to be similar to family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf. Tall passengers should be pretty comfortable whether they’re sitting in the front or the back, though a third person in the middle would be a bit of a squeeze.

Boot space measures in at 350 litres, and because this isn’t a proper convertible that needs somewhere to store its folded roof, there’s no reduction in that space if you want an open air drive. It’s a useful space that’s big enough for a couple of suitcases, but lags behind the Kamiq (400 litres), 2008 (434 litres) and Countryman (450 litres).

There’s just one engine choice in the 500X Dolcevita. It’s a 1.5-litre petrol making 130hp, and although Fiat calls it a ‘Hybrid’ that’s overstating it a little bit. It’s effectively a mild-hybrid, which means it has a small electric motor that can take some of the load off the engine and run for very short periods on electric. It has some minor economy and emissions improvements, but you won’t be running to the shops and back without engaging the petrol engine. Official economy figures suggest you should see up to 49mpg with CO2 emissions up to 136g/km.

In our experience with the regular 500X, we’ve found it to be a good option for those who want an SUV with some character, but there are plenty of alternatives that are better put together and more practical, too. The retractable roof of the Dolcevita is a cool USP, though.

Interested? You can check out the latest Fiat 500X Dolcevita deals on carwow, or browse the latest used Fiats, too. Plus, we can help you sell your current car.